Bottle-washing machine



BOTI'TLE WASHING MACHINE.

No. 474 F10. Patented May 10, 1892.

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' J. F. WITTEMANN.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

No. 474,510. Patented May 10, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB F. XVITTEMANN, OF FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,510, dated May 10, 1892.

Application filed .Tune 22, 1891. Serial No. 397,131. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that 1, J A0013 F. WITTEMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fort Hamilton, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Vashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the bottle washing machine for which Letters Patent were granted to me, numbered 419,486 and dated January 14e, 1890, the said improvements being designed with a View to render said machine more effective in use and adapt the same for being operated by power; and the invention cousists, primarily, of a bottle-washing machine which comprises a hollow rotary spindle having an elastic scraper or othercleaning device connected by a knucklejointto its front end, 'a yoke-shaped slide-frame guided on a rail of the table, toggle-levers connecting the slide-frame with a counterbalancing-weight, a guide-sleeve for vthe spindle and shank of the scraper and a bottle-rest on said slideframe in line with the spindle, a water-supply valve for said spindle, and a shifting-lever operated by said slideframe, so as to produce the opening of the supply-valve when the same is moved in backward direction and the closingI of the valve when the slide-frame is returned to its normal position of rest.

The invention consists, secondly, of an elastic scraper provided with a flexible tapering center-piece having a flexible core and flat wings havin g raised rims at the opposite sides, said scraper being connected by a pivot-joint with the front end of the spindle.

The invention consists, further, of certain details of construction, which will be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved machine for washing bottles. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the saine, partly in section, on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 2a is a front elevation of the bottle-holder, taken on line 2n 2'. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Figs. 4, 5, and G are respectively a vertical longitudinal section, atop view, and a vertical transverse section on line 6 6,Fig. 4,0f the scraper used in connection with the spindle of the bottle-washing machine. Fig. 7 is a detail side View of a scraper in the form of a cleaning-brush used in connection with said spindle; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectivelya vertical longitudinal section and a Vertical transverse section on line 9 9, Fig. 8, of the valve as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

To the rear part of the table B, vertically above the standard A, is applied a fork-shaped support O, which is provided with bearings for a shaft C', that is provided with a fixed pulley d and a loose pulley d for the motiontransmitting belt J, which is shifted from one pulley to the other by a suitable belt-shifter C2, that is guided in laterally-extending keepers Cof the forked support O, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2.

The rear end of a tubular spindle D is screwed into a threaded socket of the shaft O,by which rotary motion is imparted to the spindle. The rear part of the spindle D is provided with water-supply openings CP2, which are inclosed by a valve-casing d, that is attached by a circular fiange d2 to a corresponding fiange on the front end of the forked sup-` port C, as shown clearly in Fig. 8, a-suitable packing-ring being interposed between the faces of the fiange d2 and the face of the support O, so as to produce a tight connection between the same.

The tubular spindle D is provided at the points where it leaves the valve-casing du with suitable packing, of which the packing at the front end of the casing d is inclosed by a suitable stuffing-box, while the packing at the rear end of the same is tightly applied in position by a screw-nut that is screwed into a threaded socket at the rear end of the valve- To the upper end of 'the tubular standloc casing du. The valve-casing d is connected at one side with a water-supply pipe e, ha-ving a stop-cock e', which pipe is connected by a rubber or other hose with the water-supply. The end of the water-supply pipe e terminates below a valve d4, which is pressed by aspring against a valve-seat below the perforated portion of the tubular spindle D, said spring being located on the valve-spindle and interposed between the valve d4 and a screw-cap d, that is applied to the eXteriorly-threaded lower end of the valve-casing d, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. The lower end of the valvespindle CF is passed through the upper end of a stirrup d8 and attached thereto by a n ut and jam-nut. Between the lower part of the stirrup d8 and the table BI is interposed a Icushioning-spring d, which is appliedy to pinson the stirrup and on the table, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 8, said spring servingl to impart an upwardl pressure to the stirru p. The stirrup d8 is guided in vertical position by means of transverse pins dx, that are applied to a fixed longitudinal guide-rail R, that is rigidly attached to uprightpostsr r, arranged, respectively, at the rear and front part of the-table B.

Thetransverseguide-pi ns d* and the guide-rail R serveto guide Vthe'stirrup in line with the valve-spindle, so as to prevent anystrai n on the valve and secure thereby the-easy and reliable movement of thesanie. Thelowerend of the stirrup d8 is engaged by an anti-friction roller f, whichis applied to the upwardly-curved rear end of a longitudinal shipping-lever F, the downwardly-bent front end f of which rests on the table B, vertically below the guide-rail R. On the guide-rail R is -guided by-a bottom sleeve H a yoke-shaped slideframe-H, which is provided with an open bottie-rest 71, having a fiaring flange' 7L at the front part `of the saine for the bottle-mouth and with a 'sleeve-shaped' rear part'hz, that serves to hold the jointed shank of the cleaning -device inline with the tubular spindle D, as shown clearly-in Figs. l and 2. An open space is arranged between the bottle-rest h andthe guide-sleeve h2, in which the scraper can rotate without friction or wear when the scraper is running idle during the time when nobottle is placed over the same for cleaning.v

The under side of the sleeve H of the slideframe H has two laterally-extending perforated ears h3, to which are'pivoted the front ends ofl two toggle-levers L L', whose rear ends are pivotedto the rear part of the table B, one at each side of the forked support C, the toggle-levers L and the slide-frame H being counterbalanced by a counter-weight YV, which is suspended in the tubular standard A from a wire cord h4, that passes through an eye of the weight WV and over pulleys h5, the shafts of which turn in bearings at opposite sides of the forked support C. The upper ends of the wire cord h4 are attached to eyes at the rear parts of the toggle-levers L L', so that the saine can readily follow the motion of the slide-frame H and either i'nove away from each other or toward each other, accordysition of rest at the front part of the table B.

To the under side of the base l'l of the slide-frame H is applied a flanged anti-friction roller It, which rides on the top of the shipping-lever F and which serves to depress the saine as soon as the roller he passes over the curved front end f of the saine, so as to lower thereby the rear end, and a downward pressure on the stirrup d8, attached to the Vvalve-spindle C17, so that the springs CP and d5 of the stirrup and valve-spindleare depressed and the valve d4 opened and water admitted into the perforated rear part of the tubular spindle D,'fro1n which it is then supplied to the perforated front end of the saine and ejected into thebottle, which is at that time in position on the bottle-rest.

On the guide-sleeve h2 of the slide-frame l-I is supported an arched guard-plate or'hood H2, which serves as a guard for the scraper that is applied to the front end of the spindle D, so as to prevent the water fromy being spattered by the quick rotations lof the said scraper and return it to the table.V The'hood H2 is attached by a post-on the guide-sleeve of the slide-frame H and extendedv over the top part'of the bottle-rest, as shown'clearlyin Figs. l, 2, and 3. To a threaded socket at the frontend of the tubular spindle D is applied a scraper of any suitable constructionfor instance, a cleaning-brush I, which is used for the final cleaning ofthe bottle, or a scraper K, which is preferably used when bottles with hollow bottoms have to be cleaned.

The scraper, in the form of a brush Lis provided with radial bristles, which are retained between the twists of a binding-wire, which is 'applied to a shank that is pivoted to the threaded piece whichis screwed into the socket at the front end of thel spindle, as shown in Fig. 7.

The scraper K is preferably made of rubber and provided with a central flexible tapei-ing rib b, that is reinforced by a core'b, of sh-bone or other flexible substance.

The scraper K is provided with a threaded end that is screwed into the threaded socket of a shank K', which latter is connected by a knuckle-joint to a tubular shank K2, that is screwed into the front end of the spindle, as shown in Fig. 4.

The scraper K'is formed of two or more radially-extending iiatfwings b2, of soft rubber, that are made integral with the central 'tapering ribk b and provided with circumferential riins b3 at opposite sides of said wings, as shown clearly in Figs. 4t and 6.

The rimmed wings of the scraper K are readily folded so as to penetrate into the annular cavity at the bottom of the bottle when the scraper arrives at that point, while they expand to their full width when they'leave IOO IIO

said cavity, so as to exert a scraping action on thein ner surface of the bottle.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The bottle is taken from the washing-tank and placed with its neck on the bottle-rest, it being then in line with the axis of the tubular spindle D. The bottle is then pressed firmly against the bottle-rest and moved with the latter and its supporting slide-frame in backward direction, so as to raise the balanceweight of the slide-frame. By the backward motion of the slide-frame the bottle is passed overthe scraper,which is guided into themouth of the bottle, so that the scraper, which is rotated at the saine time and thrown outwardly by the pivot-joint of its shank, cleans the entire inner surface of the bottle. By the backward motion of the slide-frame the shippinglever is depressed, and therebyY the water-supply valve opened, so that almost simultaneously with the backward motion of the slide-frame the water for cleaning the bottle is supplied through the tubular spindle, whereby the washing operation is accelerated. As soon as the bottle is cleaned by the action ofthe rotary scraper the pressure on the bottle-rest is relaxed so that the balance -weight is lowered, the toggle-levers are moved toward each other, and the slide-frame returned into its former position of rest at the front part of the supporting-table. The guide-sleeve engages thereby the jointed end of the scraper and holds it in line with the spindle, so that it cannot be moved out of alignment therewith. The bottle is then set aside and the next bottle is taken up and cleaned in the same manner by repeating the operation just described.

My improved bottle-washing machine has the advantage that the water-supply valve is located at the nearest possible place to the scraper and is operated automatically by the motion of the slide-frame, so that the water is supplied as soon as the bottle-mouth has passed over the scraper and shut off when the same clears the scraper. The cleaning action is performed in an effective manner by means of my improved form of scraper, so that the cleaning of bottles is accomplished in a very quick, easy, and effective manner.

The term scraper used in the claims without specific description is to be understood as including a scraper of any suitable form, whether of solid wings or provided with bristles.

Having th us described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination of a rotary tubular spindle, a scraper connected to the front end of said spindle, and a reciprocating` yoke-shaped slide-frame provided with a bottle-rest at its front end and a guide-sleeve for the spindle at its rear end, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of atubular rotary spindle, a scraper connected to the front end of the same, a supporting-rod, a recipocating yoke-shaped slide-frame guided on said rod, said slide-frame being provided with a bottlerest at its front end and a guide-sleeve at its rear end and with an open space between the bottle-rest and guide-sleeve, and a guard or hood extending over the open space between the bottle-rest and guide-sleeve, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with a tubular rotary spindle, of a scraper connected to the front end of said spindle, a reciprocating yoke-shaped slide-frame provided with a bottle-rest at its front end and a guide-sleeve at its rear end, a valve for controlling the supply of water to the spindle, a shipping-lever adapted to be depressed by the lower part of the slide-frame, and a water-supply connected with the rear end of the shipping-lever, so as to open or close said valve by the action of the slideframe on the shi pping-lever, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a hollow supportingstandard, a horizontal table supported on said standard, a fixed longitudinal guide-railsupported on said table, a tubular rotary spindle supported above said guide-rail, a reciprocating slide-frame guided on said longitudinal rail, toggle-levers connecting the slide-frame with the rear part of the table, and a counterbalancing -weight connected to the rear ends of the toggle-levers, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a hollow supportingstandard, a horizontal table attached to the upper end of said standard, a forked support attached to the upper part of the standard, a rotary shaft supported in bearings of said support, a tubular spindle attached to said rotary shaft, said spindle being provided with openings in its rear end, a valve-casing extending around the perforated rear part of the spindle, a water-supply pipe, a valve located in the valve-casing so as to open or close the water-supply pipe, a reciprocating and counterbalanced slide-frame guided on said spindle, and a shipping-lever connected to said -water-supply valve and opened or closed by said slide-frame, substantially as set forth. v

6. The combination of arotary tubular spindle having perforations at its rear end, a valvecasing extending around the perforated portion of the spindle, a water-supply pipe connected with said valve-casing, a spring-valve in said valve-casing, a stirrup attached to the spindle of said valve, a shipping-lever pivoted to said stirrup, and a reciprocating slideframe guided in line with said spindle, so as to actuate the shipping-lever and thereby the supply-valve, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination, with a rotary shaft, of a tubular spindle attached to said shaft, said spindle being provided with perforations in its rear end, a valve-casing extending around the perforated portion of the spindle, a watersupply pipe connected to said valve-casing, a spring-actuated valve in said valve-casing, a

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stirrup applied to the spindle of the valve, a shipping-lever pivoted` to said stirrup, and a reciprocating and slide-frame guided in line with the tubular spindle,:said slide-frame be ing. provided with an anti-friction roller at its lower part, so as to engage or release the shipping-lever and open or close the supplyvalve of the spindle, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a forked support having a disk-shaped flange at one end, a rotarydriving-shaft supported in bearings of said' support, a tubular spindle secured in line with said rotary shaft and provided with perforations at its rear portion, a valve-casing extending around the perforated portion and provided with a disk-shaped face that is attached to the disk-shapedv flange of the said support, a Water-supplypipe connected with saidv valve-casing, a spring-actuated valve opening and closing the Water-supply, ashipping-lever connected with the spindle of said valve, and a reciprocating slide-frame adapted to operate the shipping-lever, substantially as set forth.

9. Ina bottle-Washing machine, an elastic scraper composed of a flexible tapering center portion having a flexible core'and flat wings extendingk from the center portion, substantially asset forth.

l0. In a bottle-washing machine, an elastic scraper'formed of a tapering center portion,

a flexible core in said center portion, and flat Wings extending from said center portion and having raised circumferential rims at opposite sides of said wings, substantially as set forth.

ll. The combination, with a rotary shaft, of atubular spindle secured to said rotary shaft, said spindle being provided with holes at that portion next adjoining said shaft, a valve-casing inclosing the perforated portion of the spindle, said valve-casing being attached to the bearings of the shaft, a val ve in said valvecasing, and means for tightening the con nection between the valve and spindle, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with a rotary tubular spindle, of a tubular holder adapted to be inserted into the outer end of the spindle, a scraper connected by a pivot-joint to said holder, and a reciprocating slide-frame provided With a guide-sleeve that is adapted to engage said holder and-the shank of the scraper when the slideframe is returned to its normal position and release the shank when the slideframe is moved backward so as to release the pivoted scraper, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB F. l/VITTEMANN.

Witnesses:

HERMANN COLLINS, HUGO MUNDsTEoKNER. 

